My Book Club

The drawing of the next book-club winner is coming up on February 28th. After the drawing, I will reach out to the winner to mail them three wonderful books – The Only Woman in the Room, Victoria, and Learning to See.

Winter 2020 Book Club Books: The Only Woman in the Room, Victoria, and Learning to See

Learning to See by Elise Hooper

In Learning to See, Elise Hooper tells the gripping tale of photographer Dorothea Lange, a woman torn between work and family during the brutal Great Depression. I love this book and I wrote about it more here.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

The Only Woman in the Room follows the unbelievable
life story of Hedy Lamarr. As a movie star, she had glamorous roles wearing
high fashion, yet, off the set, Lamarr used her vast intelligence to work on inventions
such as an improved traffic light, a soft drink, and the invention she
patented, a frequency-hopping radio signal so that World War II enemies could
not track torpedo signals.

Benedict takes this fantastic story and makes it believable.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

The novel opens with young Hedy on stage in Austria before
World War II, attracting the attention of an arms manufacturer she would later
marry and, when he became too possessive, flee from to the United States. After the Navy Department refuses to consider
Lamarr’s radio signal invention, Benedict ends with Hedy back on stage, using
her beauty and glamor to raise money for the war effort, resigned to her fate.

But I wonder, after a lifetime of fighting, would not Lamarr have risen again, perhaps not in the same brilliant scale, but still come to some psychological triumph?

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

In Victoria, Daisy Goodwin traces the path of Queen
Victoria from the start of her reign to the decision to marry Albert.

I assumed that once you became queen, you had it made, but this novel explores Victoria’s tricky path to learn protocol and understand how to get and keep both public and bureaucratic support. (Todays’ uproar over Prince Andrew and Megan Markle shows it’s not an easy a path.)

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

Victoria realizes that she needs someone with governmental knowledge on which to rely and to remain a trusted advisor. Having at least one trusted advisor is a good lesson for all of us. Goodwin divides the book into four clear-cut divisions, perhaps because it made it easily fit with the Masterpiece Theater episodes (I haven’t watched the tv version, because I wanted to read the novel first). The book ends with her proposal to Albert, but like Victoria’s growth into becoming a confident queen, I wonder if the marital relationship might have taken some getting used to as well.

Like the Books? Want to Enter the Drawing? Join My Book Club!

If you’re on my email list, you are automatically entered into the book club drawings. If you’re not, click here to sign up, and if you know anyone else who’d love to join the book club, please share the link with them too (thank you!).

Learning to See by Elise Hooper is one of my book club books for Winter 2020. To learn more and join my book club, click here.

I read Learning to See’s 330 pages in one session, unwilling to get up off the couch and do something else. This story is the gripping tale of a woman torn between work and family.

In the book, Elise Hooper tells the story of photographer Dorothea Lange, well-known for her iconic 1936 photograph “Migrant Mother,” and her struggle between being an artist and breadwinner and being a mother, without societal safety nets like food stamps and while facing the horror of poverty.

During the brutal Great Depression, Lange was the chief wage earner for her family. She had no family who could watch her children as she traveled for weeks, photographing migrant camps of those who themselves struggled to feed their families and find work. Lange was forced to put her children into an informal foster care, which affected their relationship into adulthood.

Hooper depicts Lange’s “everyday courage,” showing the character as struggling with the aftereffects of polio as well as gastric problems while trying to earn a living and keep her family together. This book has relevant themes for many of us today as many of us, like me, try to balance work with a family life.

Harper’s descriptions of color and detail are particularly well-crafted, illustrating the world as Dorothea Lange would have seen it.

Learning to See: A Novel of Dorothea Lange, the Woman Who Revealed the Real America by Elise Hooper

Elise Hooper has written a great book. If you haven’t read it and want to try your luck at getting a free copy of the book (along with two other books), join my book club by February 28th, 2020!

Would you like to chat about Learning to See? Share your thoughts here on Facebook.

If you’re on my email list, you are automatically entered into the book club drawings. If you’re not, click here to sign up, and if you know anyone else who’d love to join the book club, please share the link with them too (thank you!).

I have just picked my first book club winner! The winner has received an email letting them know that they won.

The next drawing is coming up in February with three new books I personally love. If you’re subscribed to my mailing list, you’re all set – anyone subscribed to my email list will be entered to win. If you’re not on my list, consider subscribing, find the details here.

As a reminder, the books for the October drawing were:

The Other Alcott by Elise Hooper

The Address by Fiona Davis

Old Baggage by Lissa Evans

I will announce the next books by Thanksgiving.

Till next time,

Kathleen

Primary Sidebar

Join My Book Club (It’s FREE)

Sign up to my email list to receive updates from me. I know that my email subscribers LOVE BOOKS, so, as an email subscriber I will include you in FREE book giveaways that I run!

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Don’t like the newsletter? Not a problem! You can unsubscribe anytime with a click of a button. For my privacy policy and terms of service please click the link in the footer of this website.

About Kathleen Colvin

The path before us has been forged by other strong women from the past. My mission is to inspire strong women with strong women, from history and today.

I’m a historical fiction author uncovering the hidden history of some of the most influential women of their time.

This site is dedicated to these historical inspirational women, and to you, an inspiring strong woman.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.OkTerms & Conditions